Collapsible boat



1948. c. ORMOND COLLAPSIBLE BOAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 24, 1944 N amen M Urmoni C. ORMOND COLLAPSIBLE BOAT ocrzlef 1948.

Filed Nov. 24. 1944 II'II 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i l I,

mlllfllll grwm Oct. 19, 1948.

Filed Nov. 24, 1944 COLLAPS IBLE BOAT ORMOND 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 awe/whom 67 1 8 Ormond Moon;

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 cannon [\UU! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in boats and more particularly to small boats such as row boats or boats driven by outboard motors.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible boat of extremely light weight and such as may be easily placed in collapsed form on the top of an automobile for transportation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible boat which can be easily assembled or disassembled.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible boat upon which branches and other items may be placed to disguise the boat and make the same useful as a blind when hunting ducks and other fowl.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bottom section.

Figure 2 is an inside elevational view of one of the side sections.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the boat.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 8-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 98 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the boat is made up of several. major parts, namely a bottom section 5, side sections 6, a transom section I, a bow construction 8 and a covering 9.

The bottom section consists of a properly shaped sheet In of ply'boarding although this section may be made up of a plurality of boards, of some light weight stock.

Transverse stringers l2, l3 and H are disposed across the bottom section and suitably secured thereto. At the bow end of the bottom II is a substantially triangular shaped block It.

On the stringer II are half hinges l3 at the ends thereof and facing sternward are half hinges l1, l1.

hinges I8 at the ends thereof, while the bow plate l5 has a hinge plate I9 provided with hinged barrels 20, 20 at the end thereof, this plate It) being located at the intermediate portion of the plate I 5 There are two side sections 6 and each side section consists of an elongated flexible side wall 2| each provided at its rear end with a vertical rib 22 enlarged at its lower portion to provide a seat riser 23, each of which has an eye 24 thereon.

Each of the risers 23 has a half hinge 25 for connection by a hinge pin to the corresponding half hinge l8 of the bottom section 5 and the upper portion of each rib 22 has a half hinge 23 adapted to be secured to a half hin e 21 on a transom board 28. This board 28 has additional half hinges 29 for detachable connection to the half hinges I1 on the rear stringer The side section 3 has additional vertical ribs 30, 3|, 32, each of which has a half hinge 33 at its lower portion for detachable connection to the corresponding half hinges i8 on the transverse stringers |2, I3 and H of the bottom section 5.

0n the bow end of each side section 6 is a half stem 34, flared at its lower portion as at 35 to abut the corresponding top edge portion of the bow plate I5 and each of these flared portions 35 has a half hinge 36 for detachable connection to the corresponding hinge barrels 20 on the bow plate I5.

The upper portions of the half stem members 34 have half hinges 31 through which a pin ,is disposable for detachably connecting these stem sections together.

A plate 38 is secured to the intermediate portion of each sidewall 2| and on each plate is a block 39 apertured to accommodate an oar lock 40.

As shown in Figure 2, each rib 3| is somewhat wider than the ribs 30, 32 and has a pair of vertically spaced horizontal cleats 4|, 4| thereon for abutting the corresponding end portion of a seat 42.

As shown in Figure 6, each rib 3| just below the cleats 4|, 4| is provided with an eye 43 with which an elongated member 44 is connected, this member 44 extending to the corresponding hook screw 45 of a turn buckle 46. This turn buckle may be tightened to draw in the sides 2| firmly against the ends of the seat 42.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a turn buckle structure 41 connects the eye 24 on the seat risers 23 so as to pull the stern portions of the sidewalls 2| firmly against a seat 48 interposed between the sidewalls 2| and on the risers 23.

The collapsible boat is provided with a waterproof covering 49 which may be of canvas, rubber or somerothr suitable material and is of a form adapted to snugly fit the bottom sides of the foregoing structure.

This covering 49 may be of one color or one camouflange design on one side, that is for instance, its outer side, while its inner side may be of a different tone or color or camouflage design.

As is apparent in Figure 8, the sidewalls. of the covering 49 terminate at the upper edges of the sidewalls 2| and 28 and these upper edges of the covering? are detachably connected to a flexible strip which folds over the top of walls 2| and 28 and is provided with open grommets 50 through which tie strings are disposed.

At the inner side of each sidewall 2| and the transom board 28 and just below the upper edge thereof are eyes 52 through which the tie cords 51 maybe disposed and knotted.

The purpose in terminating the upper edges of the covering 49 at the upper edges of the sidewalls' and transom is so that twigs or branches may be stuck down between these two parts in order to build up a blind for service in shooting ducks and other fowl.

In assembly the boat, it can be seen that the bottom section 5 is first placed on the ground or supporting surface and one sidewall section 5 is placed with its intermediate portion against the bulge and intermediate portion of the section 5. The half hinges i8, 33 on the stringer l3 and rib 3| are first connected by pins after which the stringers I2, I4 are connected by their half hinges to the half hinges 33 on the ribs 30, 32 respectively.

The transom board 28 is then disposed in place and its half hinges 29 are connected to the half hinges IT on the stringer I I.

The other sidewall 6 is disposed in position in the same manner and then both sidewall bow portions are pulled together against the forward tapered portion of the bottom section 5 and the hinge sections 36 connected to the hinge barrels 20 of the hinge plate IS on the bottom section 5, after which the hinge sections 31 on the stem section 34 are connected together by a, hinge pin.

It is preferable that the seats 42, 48 be put in position before the second sidewall is secured in place. After the hinge sections of the sidewalls and the bottom section have been connected, the

4 turn buckles 48, 41 may be operated to draw the sidewalls firmly against the seats 42, 48 and also" against the ends of the transom board 28.

The cover 49 can now be slipped over the above form and pulled tightly in place so that its upper edge will terminate substantially flush with the upper edge of the sidewall sections 6 and transom board 28.

Tie strings are now disposed through the grommets 50 and through the eyes .52 where they are tie in order to secure the covering against any possibility of displacement.

Inasmuch as the sides of the covering terminate at the upper edge of the boat form, branches or other concealing elements may be supported in upright position by being partly interposed between the side portions of the covering and the side sections 5 in order to serve as a blind while hunting ducks or other fowl.

Obviously the boat can be disassembled step by step following the steps of assembling inversely.

It is, understood that the boat may be constructedof any desirable material and in any form and that its size is immaterial.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a collapsible boat, a bottom section, side sections converging at a pair of their ends to form a bow, a stern section, said sections being detachably connected together, a flexible covering for said sections, said covering terminating at its upper edges at the upper edges of theside sections and stern section, a strip extending longitudinally of the side and stern sections, detachable connections between the outer edges of the strip and the upper edges of the covering, eyes at the insideof the side and stern sections and tie members between the strip and the eyes, said strip being flexible to permit disposition over the upper edges of the side and stem sections.

CLYDE ORMOND.

REFERENCES CITED vThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,227,247 Cox May 22, 1917 1,595,096 Hooker Aug. 10, 1926 2,250,127 Harman July 22, 1941 2,332,259 Reuther Oct. 19, 1943 

